So, John was out in the hinterlands. It was where he was raised. It was his “home.” It was his “thing.” Comfort was to be found in the desert. The area around the Jordan River was familiar territory. It was here that God had tapped him on the shoulder…and whispered into his ear.
Luke mentions that John is the dude that Isaiah wrote about – a while back…
He’s the guy shouting about getting ready for the coming of the Lord. He is the guy who telling folks to build sidewalks and fill in all the potholes.
Everyone is about to witness God’s work of deliverance…and they better be prepared and get ready for it.
“To get everyone ready” for the big soiree John will condemn, arraign, attack, censure, rail against and bad mouth folks if he has to…
It is “that” important.
They need to listen up.
John is kind-of “a necessary irritant.”
And I think we probably could use him, right about now – “more than ever.”
This baptizer guy has guts. He actually “tells off” people coming for baptism, repentance and deliverance.
What the crowds find – is a fiery prophet of Yahweh-God, preaching judgment (not so much on the people) but on the “injustices” that permeate our world.
All kinds of crack-pots are still making the news…calling in bomb threats for ransoming Bitcoin money, committing acts of violence, like at the famous Christmas Market in Strasbourg, France…and a record high year in gun violence…and road rage.
We need the Baptizer, now…
He will tell them…
We could use a voice that will tell us that judgment is at hand…that God is sick and tired and is no longer going to tolerate all our silly street violence that we deem as being the “new normal.”
We need to hear again that “chaff is going to burn with unquenchable fire.”
We need the Baptizer who will actually name the sins that pervade our relationships and our communities, the injustices that structure a broken world.
And at the very same time – to point us to the path that Yahweh-God has set before us.
The curious crowds wondered how they should react, what should they concretely do, how are they supposed to respond to his fiery prophetic condemnations…
And, John, never short on words…tells them…
Let all your posts on social media be loving. If they are not loving, do not post them. You already know “how” you are supposed to treat each other. Do it. Put it in practice. Make it happen. Do not delay! Love your neighbors. How many coats do you have hanging in your closet that you do not wear? Give them to the poor. How much food do you have in that pantry of yours? When is the last time, you gave food to a food bank? And do not give the old expired stuff either!
Simple, ordinary acts of grace…you can do them! You are capable. Don’t tell me you can’t afford it. Do what is right, not what is wrong.
If you are a garbage collector. Be a good garbage collector. Be the best garbage collector that you can be. Hurt no one. Help everyone you can. Go the extra mile.
If you are retired. If you are living on limited income. Does that mean there is nothing that you can do? Of course not. There is always something that you can do. Can you be compassionate? Can you be a good listener? Surely, you too, have something that you can part with… Be a model retiree. Show others how it is done!
Simple, ordinary acts of grace. Buy coffee for someone at Mickey D’s. Pay it forward. Make someone else’s day! Little things…Stop the racism, the sexism, the xenophobia…stop fearing the “other.”
Come on now, you’ve got this! You can do it. “Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees, every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Do not be oppressive of anyone. Stop judging one another. Have compassion on your fellowman including refugees. Compassion. Care. Concern.
Simple, ordinary acts of grace. You can do them. Little things…little stuff, nothing mind-blowing or earth shattering…no one else may even notice…but you will…and this world might be changed – more than you realize, by simple ordinary acts of grace.
Be the you, that God intended you to be.
I tell you, we need the Baptizer, now…